SWD director Augustine Tuuga said veterinarians who checked the condition of the three tigers – Labi, Hope and Cacat – found they were healthy.

“I didn’t get any ‘unusual’ report from our officers, so I guess they should be okay. The last time, they looked a bit overweight.

“There is nothing to be concerned about,” said Tuuga, who admitted that one of the tigers appeared “skinny”.

“It could be the angle the photo was taken that made it look that way,” he added.

Labi, Hope and Cacat are among the treasured animals at the Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, along with pygmy elephants, proboscis monkeys and several bird and deer species.

The tourism, culture and environment ministry engaged foreign experts in mid-2019 to provide an analysis of the quality of the welfare at the park.

It could not be confirmed if the park had completed the audit and implemented recommendations in the analysis.

The Lok Kawi Wildlife Park had been at the centre of controversy on several occasions over its poor conditions arising from the lack of manpower.

There had also been allegations on social media and by activists that some animals had been mistreated and that workers had stolen provisions meant for the animals.

On June 30, 2018, two rescued pygmy elephants kept at the park died from illness, alleged on social media to have been caused by malnutrition.